Apparatus for turning pipes between rolling passes

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for turning of pipes between rolling passes, as in rolling according to the Stiefel process. The apparatus includes a support for the pipe intermediate rolling passes, a frame, a toroidal segment mounted on the frame for rotation about the axis of the segment, the segment having opposed jaws reciprocable toward and away from each other along a diameter of the segment which passes through the axis of the tube when the latter rests upon the support. The opposed jaws are connected to a single prime mover so as to be selectively driven in opposite directions through the same distance so as to grip the tube; with the tube thus gripped, the toroidal segment is rotated about its axis, as for instance, through an angle of 90*, and the jaws are then released from the tube, so that the tube in its new angular position may be presented to the rolling mill for a further pass therethrough.

United States Patent 1 91 Stefek et al.

11 1 3,811,310 1 1 May 2-1, 1974 [54] APPARATUS FOR TURNING PIPES BETWEEN ROLLING PASSES [75] Inventors: Oldrich Stefek; Vojtech Triska;

Ladislav Bednar, all of Ostrava-Hrabuvka, Czechoslovakia [73] Assignee: Nova Hut Klementa Gottwalda,

narodni podnik, Ostrava-Kuncice, Czechoslovakia 22 Filed: "Felt-17, 11172 21 Appl. No.: 227,228

52 U.s.c1..... ..72/252,81/53A 51 1111.01 ..B2lb 39/20 58 Field ofSearch 72/208, 209, 250, 252,

Coe 72/208 3,670,549 6/1972 Tselikov et al. 72/214 X Primary Examiner-Milton S. Mehr Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Arthur O. Klein [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for turning of pipes between rolling passes, as in rolling according to the Stiefel process. The apparatus includes asupport for the pipe intermediate rolling passes, a frame, a toroidal segment mounted on the frame for rotation about the axis of the segment. the segment having opposed jaws reciprocable toward and away from each other along a diameter of the segment which passes through the axis of the tube when the latter rests upon the support. The opposed jaws are connected to a single prime mover so as to be selectively driven in opposite directions through. the same distance so as to grip the tube; with the tube thus gripped, the toroidal segment is rotated about its axis, as for instance, through an angle of 90, and the jaws are then released from the tube, so that the tube in its new angular position may be presented to the rolling mill for a further pass therethrough.

PATENTEBm 2i m4 SHEET 1 0f 3 minnow 2 1 i914 SHEET 2' UP 3 1 APPARATUS FOR TURNING PIPES BETWEE ROLLING PASSES This invention relates to apparatus for the turning of pipes being rolled, for example, in a Stiefel mill, the apparatus turning the pipe being rolled through an angle such as 90 before each rolling pass.

in the rolling of pipes on a Stiefel mill the pipe is turned up to 90 between successive roll passes. There are known a plurality of prior devices for doing this. One of these consists of a toroidal segment arranged to rotate in a frame, reciprocable jaws being mounted on the ends of the segment so as to be selectively movable toward and away from the center of curvature of the segment, such segment being disposed substantially on the axis of the pipe as it'is supported between successive passes through the rolling mill. These jaws are connected together by cables led about pulleys, the connection between jaws being such that they move through equal distances and in opposite directions. The segment is turned about its axis by a further cable mechanism. This'known device has the disadvasntage of a high rate of wear of its parts and thus its eventual failure. such high rate of wear occurring primarily in the intricate cable mechanisms.

There is also known a further device of the same general type which is provided with a segment arranged to rotate in a frame. there being two-armed levers pivotally mounted on the segment at one of their ends. These levers swing about a common pivot and their other ends. opposite to the ends at which they are pivotally mounted upon a segment. form tube-gripping jaws. The selective tube-releasing and tube-clamping by the jaws is controlled by an air cylinder which is mounted in the segment. the piston rod of such air cylinder being connected to the connecting pivot of the two-armed levers. The disadvantage of this-device is its inapplicability to the rolling of pipes having major diameters from 4 to l inches. because the gripping jaws cannot be opened to the extent necessary to let pass between them the press ram for pulling out the piercing mandrel from the billets or cylinders. or. as the case may be. the rolling mandrel from the deformed pipes. if the space between the gripping jaws were to be enlarged. it would be necessary to increase the dimensions of the levers and of the segment. and also the stroke of the air cylinder which powers the jaws. But such an enlarged device could not be installed in the mill layout by reason of its dimensions and the dimensions of the frame of the roll stand. v

The invention has among its objects the overcoming of the disadvantages described above of the prior art pipe-turning apparatus.

The apparatus of the invention includes a toroidal segment. pivotally mounted in guides of a frame. there being opposed pipe-gripping jaws mounted on the ends of the segment, the jaws being selectively moved through equal distances in opposite directions along a line which at least substantially intersects the axis ofthe pipe. The apparatus of the invention is particularly characterized by the connection of the gripping jaws with one jaw-actuating cylinder. the segment being directly connected with a piston rod ofa second cylinder, which is pivotally connected with the frame.

The connecting between the gripping jaws and the first-recited cylinder is capable of variation; in one illustrative embodiment, one gripping jaw is connected with the piston rod of the said first cylinder, there being a rack gear connected to such jaw enmesh with a pinion which is also enmesh with an opposite rack mounted on one end of a pull rod, the other end of such pull rod being pivotally connected with the second gripping jaw.

Alternatively, one gripping jaw may be pivotally connected with said first cylinder, the second gripping jaw being connected with the piston rod of said first cylinder. In still another embodiment, one gripping jaw is pivotally connected with the piston rod of a first cylinder. the other gripping jaw being connected with the same piston rod by means of a lever system.

The common advantage of all of such embodiments of the apparatus in accordance with the invention consists in their simplicity, easy maintenance, and reliable function. All of such embodiments of the apparatus of the invention provide sufficient space for the traversing of the mandrel-withdrawing press ram as well.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be expresslyunderstood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose ofillustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

in the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views,

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in front elevation of a first embodiment of the pipe-turning apparatus in accordance with the invention, some of the pa'rtsbeing shown in vertical section; I

FIG. 2 is a similar view of a second embodiment of the apparatus'of the invention; and

FlG. 3 is a similar view ofa third embodiment of the apparatus in accordance with the invention.

in the embodiment of FIG. I the opposed jaws are powered by a single cylinder, and are connected for opposite synchronous movement by opposed rack gears connected by a pinion. in the embodiment of FIG. 2. the opposed jaws are similarly powered by a single cylinder. and are connected by a lever system. in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the opposed jaws are directly connected to the cylinder and to the piston rod ofthe cylinder.

Turning now to FIG. 1, the apparatus there shown has a frame 1 on which there is mounted a toroidal segment 3, the segment being provided on both sides thereof with circular guide grooves into which project segment-mounting rollers 2 on the frame. The center of curvature of the guide grooves substantially coincides with the axis of the rolled pipe shown schematically at 16, such pipe being 'shown resting in a channel 17 between passes through a rolling mill such as one of the Stiefel type. between successive roll passes. Coaxial oppositely disposed pipe-gripping jaws 4 and 5 are reciprocably mounted in bushings in the respective ends of the segment 3, the jaws reciprocating perpendicularly to the axis of the pipe l6.

One end of a transversely disposed pull rod 7, mounted below the channel 17, is directly connected to the left-hand gripping jaw 4. The other, right-hand end powered by an expansible chamber reciprocable motor 9 having'a piston rod 8 connected to the gripping jaw .5; the body or cylinder of the motor 9 is pivotally mounted on a stub shaft or pivot pin 10 which is affixed to the segment 3. A lever 1 1, having a clevis at its outer end, provides for the pivotal connection of the outer,

free end of a piston rod 12 of a second reciprocable as to thrust the piston rod 8 out of the casing, the jaw motor l3 turns the thus-gripped pipe through the same angle, which may be, for example, up to 90. After this, the jaws 4 and 5 are released from the pipe 16 by the reverse actuation of the motor 9, and the segment is restored to the position thereof shown in F IG. lso as to be in readiness for the next pipe-turning operation.

. in the embodiment of the apparatus of the invention shown in FIG. 2, the pull rod, the opposed rack gears,

and the pinion with which they mesh are, in effect, replaced by a lever system. The two opposed jaws, 4' and 5 are reciprocably mounted in the opposite ends of the segment 3, as in the embodiment of FIG. 1. A first reciprocable fluid motor 9' is mounted on the lever 11, as shown, the outer end of.the piston rod 8' of motor 9' being connected to the jaw 5' and to the right-hand end ofa link 26 by a pivot pin 24. The left-hand end of the link 26 is-pivotally connected to the lower end of a two-armed lever 27 by a pivot pin 20, the two-armed lever being pivotally mounted upon the segment by a pivot pin 19. The upper end of the lever is pivotally connected to the jaw 4 by a pivot pin 14. The jar 4 is guided with respect to the segment 3 by the reception ofa pin 18 on the segment in a groove 18a on the jaw 4. With the construction of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, there are no racks and pinions to be fouled by dirt, scale, and the like. This thus improves the reliability of the apparatus.

In the embodiment of the apparatus of the invention shown in FIG. 3, the gripping jaws, there designated 4" and 5", directlyare connected to and thus are controlled by a first fluid motor 9". in this embodiment, the gripping jaws 4" and 5" are mounted in the opposite ends of the segment 3 on rollers 23, rotating upon stub shafts l5. The gripping jaw 4" is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 14' with the casing of the motor 9", the piston rod 8" of motor 9" being pivotally connected by a pivot pin 24 with the gripping jaw S'-'. The

13 in FIG. 1, may .be actuated by either hydraulic or pneumatic pressure. 7

Although the invention is illustrated and described with reference to a plurality of preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be expressly understood that it is in no way limited to the disclosure of such plurality of embodiments, but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: w

1. Apparatus for turning pipes through a predetermined angle about their axes between successive passes through a roll pass of a rolling mill provided with a means for supporting a pipe outwardly of the roll pass in general alignment with the path of travelof the pipe through the roll pass, said apparatus comprising a frame, a toroidal segment mounted for rotation .about its axis on the frame with said axis substantially coincident with the axis of a pipe on said supporting means,.

opposed pipe-gripping jaws mounted in the opposite ends of the segment and reciprocable along a line substantially intersecting the axis of a pipe on said supporting means, means for synchronously reciprocating the jaws in mutually opposite directions toward and away from each other comprising a first reciprocable fluidactuated motor, means connecting the two jaws to said motor so as to be actuated thereby, and means for turning the segment and a pipe gripped by the jaws thereon through a'predetermined desired angle.

2; Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for turning the segment and a pipe gripped by the jaws thereon comprises a'second fluid-actuated motor, said second motor having a reciprocable driven element and means connecting said driven element to the segment. 7 I

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid-actuated motor has a cylinder and a piston with a piston rod, and comprising means pivotally connecting one gripping jaw to the cylinder of said first motor, and means pivotally connecting the second gripping jaw to the piston rod of said first motor.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid-actuated motor has a cylinder, :1 piston, and a piston rod, and comprising means connecting one grip ping jaw to the piston rod of said first motor, a rack gear connected to said one gripping jaw and extending longitudinally of the path of reciprocation of said jaw, a pinion rotatable about a stub shaft on the frame, said pinion being constantly in mesh with said rack gear, a second, oppositely facing rack gear also in constant mesh with said pinion, said second rack gear forming an end of a pull rod, and means pivotally connecting the other end of said pull rod.to the second gripping j 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid-actuated motor has a cylinder, :1 piston, and a piston rod, and comprising means pivotally connecting the v piston rod to one gripping jaw, and a lever system concasing of the motor 5" is free of attachment to the segment 3, and thus moves with the jaw 4", the piston rod 8" movingwith the jaw 5". This overhung mounting of the gripping jaws 4" and 5" is especially advantageous when thepipes 16 to be turned are of large diameters, the jaws 4"'and 5" uniformly gripping the pipe 16 be tween them in a zone which is free of engage-ment by the pipe-supporting channel 17.

In all three embodiments of the apparatus shown and above-described, it is to be understood that the first and second cylinders, corresponding to cylinders 9 and a necting the piston rod of the first fluid-actuated motor to the other gripping jaw.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for synchronously reciprocating the jaws in mutually opposite directions toward and away from each other comprises mechanical motion reversing and transmitting means connected between the jaws to force them to travel equal distances in opposite directions.

* It= I 

1. Apparatus for turning pipes through a predetermined angle about their axes between successive passes through a roll pass of a rolling mill provided with a means for supporting a pipe outwardly of the roll pass in general alignment with the path of travel of the pipe through the roll pass, said apparatus comprising a frame, a toroidal segment mounted for rotation about its axis on the frame with said axis substantially coincident with the axis of a pipe on said supporting means, opposed pipegripping jaws mounted in the opposite ends of the segment and reciprocable along a line substantially intersecting the axis of a pipe on said supporting means, means for synchronously reciprocating the jaws in mutually opposite directions toward and away from each other comprising a first reciprocable fluidactuated motor, means connecting the two jaws to said motor so as to be actuated thereby, and means for turning the segment and a pipe gripped by the jaws thereon through a predetermined desired angle.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for turning the segment and a pipe gripped by the jaws thereon comprises a second fluid-actuated motor, said second motor having a reciprocable driven element and means connecting said driven element to the segment.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid-actuated motor has a cylinder and a piston with a piston rod, and comprising means pivotally connecting one gripping jaw to the cylinder of said first motor, and means pivotally connecting the second gripping jaw to the piston rod of said first motor.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid-actuated motor has a cylinder, a piston, and a piston rod, and comprising means connecting one gripping jaw to the piston rod of said first motor, a rack gear connected to said one gripping jaw and extending longitudinally of the path of reciprocation of said jaw, a pinion rotatable about a stub shaft on the frame, said pinion being constantly in mesh with said rack gear, a second, oppositely facing rack gear also in constant mesh with said pinion, said second rack gear forming an end of a pull rod, and means pivotally connecting the other end of said pull rod to the second gripping jaw.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid-actuated motor has a cylinder, a piston, and a piston rod, and comprising means pivotally connecting the piston rod to one gripping jaw, and a lever system connecting the piston rod of the first fluid-actuated motor to the other gripping jaw.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for synchronously reciprocating the jaws in mutually opposite directions toward and away from each other comprises mechanical motion reversing and transmitting means connected between the jaws to force them to travel equal distances in opposite directions. 